Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina hesitated to get down since she was embarrassed to face Jeremy and also she was feeling nauseated. But then, she had promised to cook breakfast every morning and he might be expecting her to prepare breakfast. She decided to cook, but when she got down, she was welcomed with a divine fragrance. 

"You started cooking already?" she asked and Jeremy turned at her with a stern look.

He was not angry at her a lot because he had one of the best nights last night. But he was a little angry that she drank without considering her health.

Working in his shed to clear his mind, he decided not to speak of last night to her. 

He confessed and she made sure she is not ready to think about love now. She still is not over the trauma of losing her child and he doesn't have any hope that she'll fall for him. And it seemed like she accepted his apology although he wasn't sure if she has forgiven him or not. 

And she won't remember anyway!

"Missy, we need to talk about how stupid you were to get drunk when you are still recovering," he spoke in an admonishing tone. He was worried if her health would get affected. 

And didn't she want a big brother? She will get one! 

Jerlina bowed her head.

"I'm sorry..." she mumbled. He is right. And now she is the one suffering from a hangover.

"What's for breakfast?" she asked rubbing the back of her ear to change the subject. She tried to peek but was body-blocked by him. Pouting, she poured water and drank. She's been feeling thirsty the whole morning.

"Don't fill your stomach with water," he grumbled and got the glass from her hand. "Sit. It's spinach and mushroom omelet..."

"Mushroom?" she pouted. "I don't-" she paused seeing him glaring at her. "I love mushrooms!" She grimaced and sat silently. "You're not my dad..." she mumbled quietly as he joined her.

How come he can be fuzzy with food, but I can't? And why am I obeying him?

"Mushrooms have Panthotenic acid that supports enzyme function. You'll feel better soon. So don't pout and just eat," he spoke in a soft tone and she didn't know what to say.

She was touched. 

No one cared for her enough to admonish her; even her dad. Even after returning well after midnight, she never was asked why she was late. It's one thing to trust your daughter and let her be free and it is another thing if you don't even know whether your daughter is home or not.

And then she became an adult and no one questioned her. She's a responsible person and never got into trouble and there was no need for someone to hold an intervention for her. 

I must be screwed somewhat to like getting admonished, huh? Eh, whatever! He is not wrong and his admonishment came out of care. So it's not wrong to be touched.

"Thank you," she said and he smiled and pointed at her plate, gesturing to eat. Seeing his bruised face she felt a pang of pain in her heart. 

He cares for me without even caring for himself.

"Aren't you applying medicine for your..." she pointed at his face and he patted his face.

"I'm fine. Someone applied medicine for me last night very lavishly and with care," he ran his tongue over his lower lip. "They were very meticulous and made sure my every wound was covered."

Yes, he couldn't help himself seeing her cute face. Big brother? I can never even be her friend! I want to be her husband.

Jerlina went blank as all the memories from last night rushed in. "...Oh? That's great," she said with a forced smile and could feel her face burning out of embarassement.

He brought that up! Can't he take the highroad and pretend that nothing happened?

She wondered if she should apologize for her crude behavior last night. But then seeing the smirk on his face she didn't like to be teased. "Was it the woman who came for you the other night?" she asked and was pleased as his smirk disappeared and got replaced with shock.

I cannot fight back too, you know?

Jeremy was flabbergasted that she brought that up. She was cutely blushing a moment ago and suddenly she started attacking him.

Is she angry that I teased her? Hmm...

"No, it was this little, cute woman who was drunk like a skunk and started calling me-"

"Fine! I apologize!" Jerlina interjected him. She didn't want him to be repeating everything she did the last night. "I don't behave when I am drunk. I am not sure what I did but I'll make sure-"

"I understand. You don't have to apologize. For your health, be careful when you drink," he decided not to poke fun at her anymore. But judging by the speed she tried to stop him from speaking and the way she blushed, he wondered if she remembered last night.

Interesting...

His heart was filled with glee. He wasn't sure if she remembered or not, but talking to her did help him. And she seems a little better today too although she is hungover. 

Scar was right! Communicating is important.

-----

"Marital life isn't easy. You and Emma are different and you didn't date long before marrying and so it will take time for you to understand each other," Gerard's mother spoke with concern as she offered him breakfast. 

She didn't understand why her son who doesn't place one step wrong, started a fight in the bar. His dad had to go and get him and he insisted not to go to his wife.

'I'll kill her if I see her now,' he said and it made his dad worry.

Gerard was irritated by his mom's voice and clicked his tongue.

"I don't care to understand her," he scoffed and then soon his eyes got teary.

"Son, what is it?" She held his hand. Her heart split into two seeing tears in his eyes. She wondered if she did wrong by forcing him to marry Emma when he didn't want to. 

But that's what his dad wanted!

"Mom, Jer... My Jer... She's pregnant with my child and I..."

"What?" Her jaws went wide open and she stood up and checked if her husband heard it. Seeing him in his study with the morning newspaper, she patted her chest and ran back to Gerard.

That obody cannot throw a curve ball like this now. How can she be pregnant? Then what will happen to our relationship with the Harrisons?

That orphan should be lying! Like a parasite, she stuck to our son and she cannot let go making my son wither. 

Who is she without my son? She must be trying and crawl her way back to him. That nasty nobody!

She looked at her son with tears in his eyes believing her lies.

How could she do this to him?

How can I save my poor son from her clutches?